Seat for use in aircraft



March 2, 1948. p', KmKL y SEAT FOR USE I'N AIRCRAFT FiledA Feb. '8, 1946 Patented Mar. 2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sEA'r Foa UsE 1N AIRCRAFT Philip Kirk, Philadelphia, Pa. Application February 8, 1946, Serial No. 646,380 7 Claims. (Cl. 155-77) This invention relates to improvements in the construction of chairs, seats, etc., for occupants voi? vehicles operating at high velocities, and particularly to vehicles which are subject to sudden change in the direction of travel, such for example as airplanes.

Modern combat planes, for example, have attained speeds in excess of 500 M. P. H. and even higher speeds would seem to be probable in the very near future. Sustained velocities at such high speeds are relatively harmless, insofar as the occupants are concerned, as long as the plane travels approximately in ay straight line, but as soon as the direction of flight is altered both the plane and its occupants are subjected to stresses of a high order.

Technical advances in recent years have increased the speed and stress tolerance of planes to such a point that in combat maneuvers, for example, and in dive bombing, etc., theplanes will successfully withstand the tremendous structural strains to which the planes are subjected, while the pilot, beyond certain limits of speed acceleration, etc., suiiers profound disturbance of f circulation, vision and consciousness, which limits the military effectiveness of combat planes.

When, at high speed, the flight path of a plane is altered from a straight line, as in suddenly starting to climb or in pulling out of a dive, the lift of the wings produces a centripetal force at right angles to the long axis Ioi" the plane. Due to the law of inertia, the pilots body is pressed into the pilots seat of the planebya centrifugal force of exactly the same magnitude. `Thus a plane moving at a velocity of 300 M. P.,II., in a curved path having a radius of 2700 feet, for example, exerts on its own structure and on the body and the organisms of the pilot a force of 2.2 G. The pilots weight of 180 lbs., with a normal gravitational vforce of `l G., then becomes 396 lbs., at 2.2 G., and all his body tissues and fluids become and remain heavy as long as such high velocity flight in a curved path continues.

Aforce equal to 7 G. would be developed by a plane traveling at a velocity of 300 M. P. H. in a turn with a radius of 850 feet and the pilot would then be pressed into the seat with a Weight of 1260 lbs. Under these conditions the pilots effective specific gravity would be higher than that of molten iron and the hydrostatic pressure ot" 'isting pressure in the vascular system as produced -by the action of the heart.

When the reactionary force resulting from an upward change of direction of travel while moving at a high rate, of speed is exerted on the pilot from his head toward his feet, the first reaction he receives from the impact of the aircraft against the resistance of the, air is one of intense bodily strain. The Cranium feels extremely heavy and becomes more and more diiiicult to hold erect. The skin of the forehead, cheeks and eyelids feel tense. The cheeks are pulled downward and the lower Jaw sags. The arms and legs feel intensely heavy and can be moved only with great effort. vRespiration becomes dilcult because of downward displacement of the dia.- phragm by the pull of the liver and the downward pressure on the heart and lungs. The anterior abdominal wall is pushed` outward. Dimming of vision appears, followed rapidly by total loss of vision, called blackout Unconsciousness usuallyA results. Y

When the reactionary force resulting from a sudden downward change of direction of travel is exerted on the occupant from the feet toward the head, the face feels highly congested. A

throbbing pain is felt throughout the head. The

eyes seem to protrude from their orbits, resulting in a visual disturbance called seeing red or reddening out. Mental confusion, headaches, muscular incoordination, and a staggering gait may last from ve minutes to eight hours after the experience.

The object of the present invention is to provide a support for an occupant of a vehicle capable of extremely high speeds and subject to sudden changes in the direction of travel, wherein the support, in the form of a seat, berth, couch, etc., will counteract the influences of suchv sudden changes of direction of motion and relieve the occupant of thedeleterious effects thereof.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a seat constructed and adapted to operate in accordance with the Y principles of the present invention;

'on'the line 3 3, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 3.

The structure comprises'a pair of parallel laterally spaced side frames or standards I, I, having feet '2, 2 provided with bolt holes 3 by which the entire structure may be rigidly secured in place in the vehicle in which the seat is to be installed. Each side frame 'l is provided with an upper or arm portion 5 in the central portion of which is mounted a horizontal pivot 8 for one l arm 1 of a cradle 8.

As shown in Fig. 3, each of the cradle arms 1 is located and adapted to swing in the plane of the frame I, within a recess 9 formed therein. Each of the arms 1, 1 is forked at its upper end, as indicated at I0, with the upper portion of the frame I disposed between and straddled by the fork arms I0, I0. The l-ower ends of the arms 1, 1 ofthe cradle Sare .connected :by 5a transverse cross bar II. l

Formed integral with the cross bar Il, at the center thereof, intermediate the side arms 1,= 1,

is a cylinder I2. The cylinder I2 is provided with closure heads I3 and I4 which close the opposite ends of said cylinder and aiord bearings ,forsslid-a I1 is mounted, .said seat having .any desiredkind of backrest I8.

Within the v-icylinder IZ.- between` the Aheads -I 3 and -ui thereof, thefpedestai Isis provided with anfannular.circumferential enlargement I3, between which and the-cylinder-head13 is mounted a plurality of compression springs 28, f2ll,iby which theseat II1 vis-riormally maintained at a-predeter-mined elevation, vertically above the cross A,bar

. or beam vII ofthe cradle v`8.

Mounted in the cylinder I 2,: l,between the ane nuIar `shoulder-,formine v:enlargement i I 9 -of the pedestal Y I5 yand the .cylinder head I4 .of vthe cylinder I2 is lazsecondser-lesbi compression springs 2|, 2I which ioppQse the vsprings Vill), 2li, thereby-maintaining theseat I1-resi1iently vin said` normal position with respect-to the -cross beam I I ofthe cradle 8;

Secured to the lower endiof-the :pedestal I5, outside the cylinder I2 and lying-adjacent the cylinder vhead I3 isa disc ,22,1 which," when the seatl 1 is unoccupied; may bearl against the Aunder side of the cylinder head yI3 `and limit the vertical movement upwardlyjof the'pedestalA I 5 under the influence of the .springsfzd 211.vl e

ThusitV will be seen `Athatfwhen the'seat I1 is occupied, in aplaneewhich changesfits. course suddenly, toI ascend forexampleffrom a. horizontal or other straight -linetpathin which they plane had been traveling, the weight of Vthe occupant=will `becounteredby-the springs `28,- 28;

and thecradle 8 -w-i1lswingfoniits pivots, 6 so `that the axis of the pedestal ,I 5 can'automatically remain at or near the vnormal approximately vertical-position when the sudden change inthe direction of ight vof` the plane-,takes place.

Should it become` desirable. .to lock the. cradle iir-mly' to -the Vside -frames I, I, inthe -normal approximately vertical positionof .the cradle 8 and theseat I1 as sliovim,v in full lines in-JEig. 3, or 11n-,any other desiredpositiomwithin-a maximum rangeof 90, i..e. ,.45"V to either side -`of the normal full line positionofFig.1, as lshown in broken linesthereinyaipair of lock1ngb0lts-25, 25 are provided. These bolts fare ,carried .by the cradle n8, adjacent each of the farms 1, 1 thereof, and the outer ends of :the 4looltaare-adap-ted to be seated in locking notches 26, ZB-formed in the arcuate surfaces 21,21 of the vrecesses il,v 9 :formed in'the parallel `flat side frames -I I respectively.-

Each bolt 125 is slidably mounted forradial movement with respect-to the apivotal .axis .6 of

the cradle 8, ini a housing, securedito the icross Each bolt includes-anannular ,shoulder` 75 29 between which and the end wall 3l of the housing 28 is located a compression spring 38.

The opposite end of the bolt projects beyond the end wall 3| of the housing 28 and is provided with a pair of spaced collars 32, 32, between which project a bifurcated end of a lever 33. The lever 33 is secured to a cross shaft 34 mounted in bearings 35, 35 secured to the cross bar II of the cradle 8 and the cross shaft is provided with an operating lever 36 whichiqextends-fwithin reach or Va person -ocoupyingthe seat I1.

In order to prevent swiveling of the seat I1 Yabout the axis of the pedestal I5, the annular enlargement I9 of said pedestal is grooved at 31 to slide on keys 38 secured on the inner surface ofthe cylinder I2 as by screws 39, 39.

I claim:

1. A seat structure comprising a pair oi' later- Hallyrspaced side frames, a cradle comprising a.

pair of side arms and a horizontal cross beam connecting said side arms. horizontal pivots mounted in said side fra mes .for pivotally supporting said sidearms thereon, aseat carried by said cradle; and A including i. a. Apedestal `slidably ,25 mounted in saidcross beam intermediate said side arms, and resilient means for normally Supporting ,said seat in a predetermined .position ,with respect to vsaidcrossbeam.

2. Asca-t .structure comprising apair of laterallyspaced Yside frames, Va cradle comprising@ pair of Aside arms ,and a horizontal cross .beam

connecting` said sidearms,k horizontal pivots mounted: in said side Afran-ies for pivotally supporting .saidi side varms thereon, Iaseat Vcarried by said `cradle and includinga. pedestal `slidably mounted in said cross beam intermediate said side armsresilient means` for normally supportingsaidseat in a predetermined position with respect -to said .cross beam, and-,means Aoperable vrfrom said seatifor lockingsaid-cradlefto said side frames many of a plurality of angular positions. about the axes of: said pivots.-

3. VA seat structure comprising -a pair of rlaterally-spaced :side iframes, aL cradle Ycoinprising apairof side-arms, horizontal vpivotsfmounted in said side Tframes `for pivotallysupporting said side arms: thereon;l a--horizontal Vcross beameconnecting said-,sidelarms remote-tosaid-pivots, a cylinder carried by-'saidV cross beam, intermediate said side arms, c1osure heads at the opposite ends -ofsaid cylinder,l a seat including .a-.pedestal slidably mountedin saidl closureheads, la circumferential fenlargem-ent onsaiol-pedesta1 intermediate saidheads, and resilient `means -in said'cylinderfbetween -saidr enlargement and said heads for "normally :supporting saidseat in a predetermined position with respect to sai-d cross beam.

kli. A- seat struct-ure :comprising a f pai-r --of latl:erally spaced fside airames,` ag-.cradle comprising a pairiofside arms operable in openings formed in said 4side frames irl-,planes coincident` with the planes ofsaid.sidedrames;forkedgfends on said side` arms straddling ,portions 'of said side frames disposed above said Openinga a horizontal cross beamV connecting, said sidearms, horizontal pivots vpassingthrough 'said portions ofsaid `side framesand saidgstraddling `forlfedends of lsaid side arms for pivotally supporting said side arms insaid sideframesf a seat carried by'said` cradle and-includinga pedestal slidablymountedin said cross beam intermediate said sideiarma-and vresilient means for normally supportingsaid seat in predetermined position with respect to -said cross beam.

5. A seat structure comprising a pair of laterally spaced side frames, a cradle comprising a pair of side arms operable in openings formed in said side frames in planes coincident with the planes of said side frames, forked ends on said side arms straddling portions of said side frames disposed above said openings, a horizontal cross beam connecting said side arms, horizontal pivots passing through said portions of said side frames and said straddling forked ends of said side arms for pivotally supporting said side arms in said side frames, a seat carried by said cradle and including a pedestal slidably mounted in said cross beam intermediate said side arms, resilient means for normally supporting said seat in a predetermined position with respect to said cross beam, and locking bolts slidably mounted in said cradle for cooperation with angularly spaced notches formed in the lower portions of said frame openings for securing said cradle in 'various angular positions with respect to said side frames.

6. A seat structure comprising a pair of laterally spaced side frames, a cradle comprising a pair of side arms operable in openings formed in said side frames in planes coincident with the planes of said side frames, forked ends on said side arms straddling portions of said side frames disposed above said openings, a. horizontal cross beam connecting said side arms, horizontal pivots passing through said portions of said side frames and said straddling forked ends of said side arms for pivotally supporting said side arms in said side frames, a seat carried by said cradle and including a pedestal slidably mounted in said cross beam intermediate said s ide arms, resilient means for normally supporting said seat in a predetermined position with respect to said cross beam, and locking bolts slidably mounted in said cradle for cooperation with angularly spaced notches formed in the lower portions of said frame openings for securing said cradle in various angular positions with respect to said side frames and means operable from said seat for actuating said locking bolts.

7. A seat structure comprising a pair of lateraily spacedv side frames, a cradle comprising a pair of side arms and a horizontal cross beam connecting said side arms, horizontal pivots mounted in said side frames for pivotally supporting said side arms thereon, a cylinder carried by said cross beam intermediate said side arms, cylinder heads including bearings at the opposite ends respectively of said cylinder, a seat carried by said cradle and including a pedestal slidably mounted in said bearings, an annular enlargement onsaid pedestal within said cylinder between said bearings, and a plurality of compression springs in said cylinder between said annular enlargement and said cylinder heads for normally supporting said seat in a predetermined position with respect to said cross beam.

PHILIP KIRK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 87,933 Holtz Mar. 16, 1869 253,951 Starr Feb. 21, 1882 '1,270,729 Harris June 25, 1918 1,688,587 Liljedahl Oct. 23, 1928 

